AIDS Eye Initiative - Seva Foundation

Since the beginning of the global epidemic of HIV/AIDS more than 70 million people have been infected and 30 million have died. Today an estimated 38 million people, largely in developing countries and resource-poor settings, still live with HIV infection. The AIDS Eye Initiative reduces blindness and mortality of those affected by HIV/AIDS.

Seva's AIDS Eye Initiative, started in 2007, aims to reduce blindness caused by a common infection among HIV/AIDS patients, CMV retinitis. The AIDS Eye Initiative currently partners with institutions involved in HIV/AIDS treatment in Southeast Asia, East and Southern Africa, and Eastern Europe.

“The infection can cause blindness and people in poverty stricken places around the world are still desperately struggling. They are the reason I chase the AIDS epidemic where it still rages in remote parts of the world.”
– Dr. David Heiden, speaking about CMV retinitis.

One of the aims of the AIDS Eye Initiative is to develop a model that makes retinal examination by indirect ophthalmoscopy a routine part of care for HIV/AIDS patients. This exam reduces mortality and blindness by providing early diagnosis and improved management of CMV retinitis and disseminated tuberculosis. Using evidence-based methods, this innovation can potentially be scaled up and widely implemented. The initiative's main activities focus on training HIV/AIDS clinicians and building the evidence base for this solution. The training and clinical work has been highly successful, with a recent publication reporting a ten-fold increased detection of CMV retinitis using our model of care. There have been over 30 training workshops, including work in South Africa, Mozambique, Uganda, India, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, China, Russian Federation and Ukraine.

In parallel with this work, we have developed a simple low-cost, wide-field retinal camera, designed specifically for less experienced users. The focus on ease of use and durability will offer dramatically greater access to new locations to reach more patients and remains easy to learn and operate. In addition, images are uploaded for remote access so that assistance for difficult diagnoses is streamlined.

The AIDS Eye initiative has worked in partnership with national HIV/AIDS treatment programs (in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, India, China, Russian Federation, Ukraine, South Africa, Mozambique) frequently also partnering at the same time with NGOs such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Medical Action Myanmar, 100% Life, AIDS Care China, and the Wm Jefferson Clinton Foundation.